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Help! Soldering aluminum wires

Discussion in 'Audio & Video' started by Caligula, Jul 20, 2015.

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  1. Jul 20, 2015 at 3:19 PM
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    Caligula

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    Caligula [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Can someone help me out, I can get the solder to tin on the terminals im using, but it avoids even touching the copper clad aluminum wires im using in my audio build.

    Im using 60/40 lead solder, rosin flux, ive tried a butane torch as well as a soldering iron.

    Different solder, different flux?
     
    Caligula, Jul 20, 2015
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  2. Jul 20, 2015 at 3:23 PM
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    Seabass

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    Seabass Give it to me. I'll break it for you

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    May be a dumb question, but why are you using aluminum wires? If they are copper clad, wouldn't the solder just stick right to the copper anyways?
     
    Seabass, Jul 20, 2015
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  3. Jul 20, 2015 at 3:24 PM
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    Caligula

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    Caligula [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Its not sticking to the copper. Copper clad aluminum is what im working with, so thats why im asking.
     
    Caligula, Jul 20, 2015
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  4. Jul 20, 2015 at 3:26 PM
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    IPNPULZ

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    IPNPULZ Well-Known Member

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    When using wires with any mix of wire I always use an Aluminum Soldering Flux.......
     
    IPNPULZ, Jul 20, 2015
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  5. Jul 20, 2015 at 3:28 PM
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    Caligula

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    Caligula [OP] Well-Known Member

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    This is different from Rosin flux?
     
    Caligula, Jul 20, 2015
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  6. Jul 20, 2015 at 3:35 PM
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    Jocoma

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    Jocoma Well-Known Member

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    Jocoma, Jul 20, 2015
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    IPNPULZ likes this.
  7. Jul 20, 2015 at 3:39 PM
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    IPNPULZ

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    IPNPULZ Well-Known Member

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    I guess it is somewhat I solder a lot of Aluminum with copper in HVAC and Refrigeration and use a lot of stuff the is 45% Silver or higher and solder a lot of terminals to wire without any issues....
     
    IPNPULZ, Jul 20, 2015
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  8. Jul 20, 2015 at 3:41 PM
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    IPNPULZ

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    IPNPULZ Well-Known Member

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    IPNPULZ, Jul 20, 2015
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  9. Jul 20, 2015 at 3:41 PM
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    Zollars

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    Zollars Well-Known Member

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    I always use an aluminum Flux like IPNPULZ said. Someone told me to years ago and I have since without issues
     
    Zollars, Jul 20, 2015
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  10. Jul 20, 2015 at 3:45 PM
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    IPNPULZ

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    IPNPULZ Well-Known Member

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    This stuff has a lot to do with temperatures of each metal if you get copper to hot it melts away same with Aluminum....
     
    IPNPULZ, Jul 20, 2015
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  11. Jul 20, 2015 at 4:02 PM
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    Caligula

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    Caligula [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Cant seem to find anyplace in Los Angeles that sells this stuff.
     
    Caligula, Jul 20, 2015
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  12. Jul 20, 2015 at 4:03 PM
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    IPNPULZ

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    IPNPULZ Well-Known Member

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    California it's properly illegal!!
     
    IPNPULZ, Jul 20, 2015
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  13. Jul 20, 2015 at 4:42 PM
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    Jocoma

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    Best thing to do is to remove all the old solder from the terminal sand it or use a wire brush then coat it with flux.
    Then coat the wire with flux heat it up and add the solder. If you can heat up the terminal instead of the wire to add the solder.
     
    Jocoma, Jul 20, 2015
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  14. Jul 20, 2015 at 9:17 PM
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    Caligula

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    Caligula [OP] Well-Known Member

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    We were trying to make your mama illegal here but the demand was too high.
     
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2015
    Caligula, Jul 20, 2015
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  15. Jul 20, 2015 at 9:19 PM
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    BMOC

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    BMOC Well-Known Member

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    how hot is your iron?
     
    BMOC, Jul 20, 2015
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  16. Jul 20, 2015 at 9:25 PM
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    Caligula

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    Caligula [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Caligula, Jul 20, 2015
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  17. Jul 21, 2015 at 5:11 AM
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    IPNPULZ

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    IPNPULZ Well-Known Member

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    So this is your Cranial Rectosis reflex response without conscious thought?
     
    IPNPULZ, Jul 21, 2015
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  18. Jul 21, 2015 at 2:45 PM
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    Caligula

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    Caligula [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Ive tried both a torch and an iron. The solder is flowing fine, its just gong around and avoiding the wires. Ive already tried scraping the wires with a brass brush and using lots of Rosin flux.

    The flux is just burning off and leaving a slimey mess. I dont get what im doing wrong, ive never had this issue with all copper wires.
     
    Caligula, Jul 21, 2015
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  19. Jul 21, 2015 at 9:42 PM
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    Caligula

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    Caligula [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Im using 60/40 tin/lead solder. I havnt seen solder with that much silver avaliable, even so i dont think it would be that affordable. Should i be using traditional lead free solder suck as 97sn/3ag?

    This stuff is advertised as aluminum solder, its the only one i can find labeled as such. its looks to be regular silver solder. Any thoughts?

    $32 Aluminum Solder Wire 96.5 Sn/3.5Ag .062 Flux Core
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DC3102Y
     
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2015
    Caligula, Jul 21, 2015
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  20. Jul 22, 2015 at 4:43 AM
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    IPNPULZ

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    IPNPULZ Well-Known Member

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    If I was having so much issue soldering I would use wire tap connectors or crimp connectors and be done with it!!!

    Is this some import wire?

    As long as you are preparing the wire correctly you should not be having these issues soldering is not by any means rocket science....
     
    IPNPULZ, Jul 22, 2015
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